Call routing method for 3G.IP networks

Abstract

A method in a 3G.IP network of routing a call from an originating subscriber in an originating network to a mobile terminating subscriber roaming in a visited network, the mobile terminating subscriber having a home network that maintains location information for the mobile terminating subscriber. When the originating subscriber sends a call origination message to a gatekeeper in the originating network, the gatekeeper obtains location information from the home network for the mobile terminating subscriber. An IP address of a media gateway in the visited network (MGW1) is then obtained and provided to a media gateway in the originating network (MGW2). The IP address of MGW2 is then sent to the originating subscriber. Thereafter, the call is routed from the originating subscriber through MGW2 in the originating network directly to MGW1 in the visited network. An MSC Server in the visited network then routes the call to the mobile terminating subscriber.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method in a third generation Internet Protocol (3G.IP) network of routing a call from an originating subscriber in an originating network to a mobile terminating subscriber roaming in a visited network, said mobile terminating subscriber having a home network that maintains location information for the mobile terminating subscriber, the visited network including a media gateway (MGW1) and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) Server, and the originating network including a media gateway (MGW2) and an Originating Media Gateway Control Function (O-MGCF), said method comprising the steps of: 
       sending a call origination message from the originating subscriber to the originating network;  
       obtaining location information for the mobile terminating subscriber in the visited network, said location information being obtained by the originating network from the home network;  
       sending a call setup message from the originating network to the visited network, said call setup message being addressed to the location obtained for the mobile terminating subscriber in the visited network, and the step of sending a call setup message from the originating network to the visited network including sending an Initial Address Message (IAM) from the O-MGCF to the MSC Server and including a routing number for the mobile terminating subscriber;  
       sending from the visited network directly to the originating network, an IP address for a node serving the mobile terminating subscriber in the visited network; and  
       routing the call directly from the originating network to the visited network.  
     
     
       2. A method in a third generation Internet Protocol (3G.IP) network of routing a call from an originating subscriber in an originating network to a mobile terminating subscriber roaming in a visited network, the originating network including a media gateway (MGW2), an Originating Media Gateway Control Function (O-MGCF), and a gatekeeper, the visited network including a media gateway (MGW1) and a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) Server, said mobile terminating subscriber having a home network that maintains location information for the mobile terminating subscriber, said method comprising the steps of: 
       sending a call origination message from the originating subscriber to the originating network;  
       receiving the call origination message from the originating subscriber at said gatekeeper;  
       obtaining location information for the mobile terminating subscriber in the visited network, said location information being obtained by the originating network from the home network, wherein the step of obtaining location information for the mobile terminating subscriber includes steps of:  
       requesting by the gatekeeper, a routing number for the mobile terminating subscriber;  
       obtaining the routing number by the home network; and  
       sending the routing number to the gatekeeper in the originating network;  
       sending a call setup message from the originating network to the visited network, said call setup message being addressed to the location obtained for the mobile terminating subscriber in the visited network;  
       sending from the visited network directly to the originating network, an IP address for a node serving the mobile terminating subscriber in the visited network and an IP address of MGW1 from the MSC Server to the O-MGCF in response to the call setup message; and  
       routing the call directly from the originating network to the visited network.  
     
     
       3. The method of routing a call from an originating subscriber to a mobile terminating subscriber in a 3G.IP network of  claim 2  wherein the step of routing the call directly from the originating network to the visited network includes the steps of: 
       providing the IP address of MGW1 to MGW2;  
       providing an IP address of MGW2 to the originating subscriber; and  
       routing the call from the originating subscriber to MGW2 in the originating network, and from MGW2 directly to MGW1 in the visited network.  
     
     
       4. A method in a third generation Internet Protocol (3G.IP) network of routing a call from an originating subscriber in an originating network to a mobile terminating subscriber roaming in a visited network, said mobile terminating subscriber having a home network that maintains location information for the mobile terminating subscriber, said method comprising the steps of: 
       sending a call origination message from the originating subscriber to a gatekeeper in the originating network;  
       obtaining by the gatekeeper, an address of a Home Call State Control Function (H-CSCF) in the home network for the mobile terminating subscriber;  
       determining by the gatekeeper that the H-CSCF is not in the gatekeeper's own domain;  
       sending a location request message from the gatekeeper to the H-CSCF;  
       requesting by the H-CSCF, a location for the mobile terminating subscriber from a Home Subscriber Server (HSS) in the home network;  
       requesting by the HSS, a routing number for the mobile terminating subscriber from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) Server in the visited network;  
       sending the routing number from the MSC Server to the HSS;  
       sending the routing number from the HSS to the H-CSCF;  
       sending the routing number from the H-CSCF to the gatekeeper in the originating network;  
       sending an Initial Address Message (IAM) from an Originating Media Gateway Control Function (O-MGCF) in the originating network to the MSC Server in the visited network and including the routing number for the mobile terminating subscriber;  
       sending an IP address of a media gateway in the visited network (MGW1) from the MSC Server to the O-MGCF in response to the IAM;  
       providing the IP address of MGW1 directly to a media gateway in the originating network (MGW2);  
       providing an IP address of MGW2 to the originating subscriber; and  
       routing the call from the originating subscriber to MGW2 in the originating network, and from MGW2 directly to MGW1 in the visited network.